This lecture will examine the evolution of U.S. engagement with Africa by critically comparing decades of aid-led diplomacy with an emerging emphasis on trade, investment, and commercial partnership.

Framed around the question of what actually drives sustainable growth, the discussion will assess the historical outcomes of aid-first strategies, the viability and limits of increased U.S. private-sector investment, and how policy, regulatory reform, and risk mitigation can unlock greater capital flows across diverse African markets.

Panelists will explore the role of technology adoption in closing development and financing gaps, identify the foundational conditions required for scalable investment, and debate where U.S. public and private actors can be most effective—individually and in concert.